Manchester United Conquers The World..

Last Sunday, Wayne Rooney grabbed the only goal as 10-man Manchester United were crowned kings of the world. United were always the dominant forces in their Club World Cup Final with LDU Quito, even after Nemanja Vidic had been sent off. And Rooney ensured the Red Devils got the reward they deserved when he curled home the winner 16 minutes from time after Cristiano Ronaldo had supplied the final pass.

It is the first time an English club have won the tournament in its expanded form and the second time United have been crowned best on the planet following their victory over Palmeiras in 1999. Any doubt over the tactics Quito would use against the Champions League winners were dispelled inside the opening five minutes.

First Claudio Bieler waded into Ronaldo with a dangerous tackle that rightly brought a yellow card, then the Ecuador outfit camped in their own half, content to let United come to the edge of their box but no further, using whatever means they could to achieve it. Quito's defence was by no means watertight but, not for the first time this season, United failed to make their superiority tell.

Rooney powered two thunderous efforts towards goal that Jose Cevallos managed to deal with, the first time convincingly, the second far less so. From then on, Rooney was the link man as chances began to pile up. Park Ji-sung was one culprit, driving an angled shot straight at Cevallos before lifting a close-range shot over the bar after Rafael had picked him out with a superb crossfield pass.

It was the type of opportunity Ferguson has been imploring the South Korean to take as he gets into similar positions so many times but for a poor net return. The same could also be said of Carlos Tevez. Three times Tevez found himself in sight of goal but on each occasion he was denied, Cevallos particularly impressive in pushing away a header the South American guided towards the corner from Ronaldo's cross.

The prospective world footballer of the year was a muted force in attack. He did bring a few appreciative howls from a capacity crowd as he danced through the Quito midfield but the physical nature of the opposition ensured he never really got a clear sight of goal.

As Ferguson delivered his interval team-talk, he must have warned his team of the danger that lurked if chances continued to be spurned. If so, his words had even more resonance four minutes after the restart as Vidic was sent off.

The flashpoint came as Vidic and Beiler wrestled on the floor as they tried to get to their feet. Suddenly Bieler was rolling around clutching his face and referee Ravshan Irmatov was brandishing a red card. TV replays showed Vidic had used an elbow, although as Bieler looked in no trouble as he re-entered the fray, it did not appear the damage was too serious.

Tevez was not happy at being substituted, snatching his tracksuit top and kicking out in frustration at the dug-out after appearing to spurn Ferguson's explanation. Yet Quito failed to press home the advantage of an extra man, Van der Sar denying Alejandro Manso and William Araujo during sporadic attacks.

In contrast, even with 10 men, United kept pushing and 16 minutes from time duly received their reward. Carrick supplied a superb pass for Ronaldo, who instead of going for goal himself, fed Rooney to his left and his shot was precise and out of the reach of Cevallos. Van der Sar needed to make a flying save to deny Alejandro Manso in the final minutes and even Tevez was off the bench as the celebrations began.

(article taken from ESPN)

10 Dalil Mengapa Aku Boleh Jadi Striker Yang Bagus…

topik kali nie aku tulis sempena ngan isu pasukan bola sepak Mesia yang kalah tak melawan dalam saingan Piala AFF Suzuki baru-baru nie… post nie bukan la bertujuan nak kondem team Mesia tapi lebih kepada merupakan inspirasi untuk membuatkan semua orang terpikir apa sebenarnya kekurangan pemain Mesia dalam permainan mereka… harap korang dapat mencari maksud tersirat yang aku try nak sampaikan dalam dalil-dalil aku tentang menjadi striker yang bagus… cuma, environment aku bukan la bola sepak padang, tapi futsal… so, mengapa aku striker yang bagus dalam permainan futsal nie ? (point yang aku nyatakan tak disusun ikut priority okay)..

pertama, shot on target depan goal – untuk score, player tue mesti la boleh buat banyak shot on target… kalau shot on target pun takda, macam mana nak score kan… ratio aku untuk kategori nie adalah dalam 0.8 bermakna hampir kesemua shot aku tepat ke gol, cuma samada masuk gol atau tepat ke keeper…. Kebanyakan, striker lain bila dapat peluang depan gol, rembat sekuat hati, at last bola rembat tinggi ke atas, da macam main ragbi la plak…

kedua, ketenangan penyudah depan goal – kebanyakan striker kat Mesia nie kelam kabut bila dapat peluang depan goal… ntah memana boleh je nak rembat, tak kira timing sesuai atau tak… aku kira, perkara paling penting sebagai striker adalah ketenangan, contoh terbaik macam Berbatov atau Anelka… dan aku plak konfiden aku punya ketenangan yang diperlukan untuk score goal… buktinya, tengok la bila aku main (kalau condition aku free injury la)… ratio aku 0.85…

ketiga, tajam menghidu peluang untuk score – yang nie la perkara yang aku boleh buat dengan bagus sekali, cari peluang… kadang-kadang keeper tengah pegang bola pun, kita boleh rampas dan score…. ada gak ketikanya, kita perlu intercept bola dari passing pihak lawan… contoh sedia ada, Tevez… pemain di Mesia, agak malas nak kejar bola kat kaki keeper, pastue malas sungguh nak intercept bola tue, juz tunggu lawan silap passing je… apa kes ??, ratio skill aku 0.9…

keempat, position yang tepat – sebagai striker, kita kena pandai letakkan diri kita kat position yang betul, baru la boleh score… positioning striker sepatutnya mesti pelbagai dan boleh mengelirukan lawan tapi memudahkan team mate kita membaca pergerakan untuk passing bola… favorit positioning aku adalah di sebelah tengah kanan… kalau keeper team aku boleh baca permainan aku lagi cantek… so, boleh la dia supply aku long ball yang cantek gak… ratio semasa aku 0.7…

kelima, passing yang tepat – aku akui aku tak berapa master bab passing nie sebab aku rabun… tapi, sekurangnya, aku mampu buat passing yang boleh menghasilkan goal untuk member sepasukan… pemain Mesia ? dapat je bola, bawak atas, mesti trus nak rembat sendiri… tak pandang member kanan kiri da… kalau rembat bagus takpe gak la, nie ntah memana je dia rembat… takde semangat sepasukan langsung la… contoh striker yang boleh buat passing cantik biasanya adalah Berbatov… hahaha… passing aku, 0.6…

keenam, placing bola – placing bola gak penting kalau nak score… aku tengok, placing bola pemain kat Mesia ni biasanya macam nak membunuh orang, tak estimate langsung character setiap player yang terima bola tue… striker yang baik adalah player yang turut boleh bertindak sebagai enjin pengerak serangan pasukan mereka… tak ramai sebenarnya striker yang boleh buat placing yang baik, kalau ada pun pemain Mesia yang boleh buat, mungkin Safee Sali je kot… rate placing aku 0.7 okay…

ketujuh, mesti kena pandai matematik - kebanyakan player Mesia lemah matematik… penemuan nie pernah disiarkan dalam akhbar tempatan sebelum ini… kenapa mesti pandai matematik ?? sebab, dengan matematik, kita boleh buat estimate untuk passing bola pada team mate, placing bola yang sesuai untuk score & buat perkiraan bila masa yang sesuai untuk buat percubaan yang boleh membuka peluang lebih besar untuk menghasilkan gol… neway, matematik SPM aku A1 ye… hahaha…

kelapan, mentality yang kuat dan suci murni - paling penting yang diperlukan oleh sorang striker adalah winning mentality yang mana selalu berpikiran positif… ye la, dalam bola, segalanya berkemungkinan… tak boleh la asyik pikir tak boleh nak menang je… pemain Mesia aku tengok agak kurang berpikiran positif dan asyik takut pada sejarah lalu je… perkara nie basic, semua orang pun tau, tapi still gak perasaan malas nak berusaha tue yang dipuja-puja… kena 2 gol je, terus haru biru cam budak skolah darjah empat main je… rileks ar, baru kena 2 gol still boleh nak kejar, still boleh nak menang 3-2 kan… nie kan namanya bola, apa saja boleh berlaku…tue la penyebab utama diorang gagal lift up to the expectation… dan aku pula sangat positif dalam permainan aku… selagi hidup, selagi itu melawan beb… 0.8 untuk aku… hehehe…

kesembilan, focus yang sangat tinggi – pemain kita agak kurang focus, tau nak insentif je, lain takda… takda focus cam mana nak score, cam mana nak menang, cam mana nak main cantek ?? aku pun dulu, kadang-kadang hilang focus gak, terutama bila time tengah berchenta la… tp, pastu okay balik… atas padang, should give everything we got, lupakan masalah di luar padang tue okay… apa kata survey untuk aku ?? 0.9… lalalala…

kesepuluh, stamina yang superb – stamina player Mesia tak seberapa pun aku tengok… ntah kat mana salah & silapnya.. garang awal-awal permainan je, lepas tue longlai… apa ar… biasa main kena maintain la… stamina aku biasa bolah tahan sepanjang permainan kecuali kalau tetiba kena hamstring… neway, 0.8 untuk aku juga… hahaha…

mesti korang tension sebab contoh aku bebalik player luar negara dan semestinya Man Utd… da aku supporter setia, nak buat cam mana kan… tapi, itu kan contoh yang tepat… so, kena terima la dengan hati terbuka dan tanpa sebarang prasangka… pada yang terasa tue, aku mintak maaf terutama player Mesia… tak salah kan belajar dari kesilapan untuk berjaya, yang penting muhasabah diri dan amik iktibar yang sepatutnya… so, apa kesimpulan korang ? baguskah aku sebagai sorang striker ??? pikir-pikirkan la ye… wokey… chow !!!

Champions League - United Triumph in Moscow

Manchester United were crowned European champions for the third time in their history after a dramatic sudden-death penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea in Moscow.

With the sides level at 1-1 after extra-time, courtesy of first-half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Frank Lampard, it was left to Edwin Van der Sar to make the decisive save in the shoot-out and hand Sir Alex Ferguson his second European crown.

In an unbearably tense conclusion, Ronaldo's penalty was saved by Petr Cech and John Terry had the chance to win the final. But the Chelsea captain slipped and his effort clipped the post and went wide.

Into sudden death it went, and after Ryan Giggs calmly side-footed home, Van der Sar parried substitute Nicolas Anelka's spot-kick to provide a fitting tribute to those who died in the Munich air disaster 50 years ago.

In an open and entertaining match, there was little to separate the two sides, who both excelled technically and conspired to provide a scintillating night of European football that will live long in the memory. The only stain on an otherwise gleaming advertisement for the Premier League was a late red card for Didier Drogba, after the striker raised his hands to Nemanja Vidic.

United lined up with Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney in a three-pronged attack, and appeared intent on taking the game to Chelsea from the outset.

With Ronaldo driving down the left flank at every opportunity, ably assisted by Patrice Evra, and the duo of Owen Hargreaves and Wes Brown patrolling the right, the Premier League champions looked the most likely for the majority of the first half.

Chelsea were slow to start, and struggled to get Joe Cole and Drogba into the game as a result of United's tireless closing down. Tevez was at his feverish best, denying opponents time on the ball and easing the pressure.

The game's first incident of note came on 21 minutes, when Claude Makelele caught Paul Scholes with a clumsy challenge. While the foul went unpunished, both players were cautioned as a result of the melee which ensued.

Soon after, United took a deserved lead. Brown cut in from the right and sent a clipped left-foot cross to the far post. Ronaldo was being marshalled by Michael Essien, but he pulled away to find space ten yards out and head his 42nd goal of a remarkable season.

To that point Chelsea had offered little in the way of attacking ambition, but on 35 minutes Michael Ballack came desperately close to bring the Blues level. The German midfielder timed his run expertly to meet Drogba's far-post header across, but his effort was superbly saved by Van der Sar.

Suddenly the game was alive. United broke almost immediately downfield and Ronaldo's low cross was met with flying header from Tevez. Cech saved brilliantly, and recovered to block Michael Carrick's follow-up from the penalty spot.

Two minutes before the interval Tevez came closer still to increasing his side's lead. This time Rooney was the architect, bombing down the right to send over a low cross which evaded the Argentine's desperate lunge by inches.

Somehow Chelsea survived and moments later they were level. Essien's hopeful long-range shot was deflected of first Vidic, and then Ferdinand, to fall neatly into the stride of Lampard. The England midfielder finished with aplomb to send the teams into the break level.

As the second half got under way, Chelsea were visibly buoyed by the goal. Ballack began to assert himself in midfield, and Essien finally got a foothold in his battle with Ronaldo.

The complexion of the game was transformed, and United were now the side hanging on and surviving on scraps in attack. Just after the hour mark, Lampard saw his shot headed behind by Rio Ferdinand, and from his resulting corner Terry leapt highest to head just over the bar.

With a little over 10 minutes remaining, Drogba cut inside and crashed a swerving 20-yard shot against the post with Van der Sar beaten. Chelsea were getting closer, but United remained resolute in defence and refused to capitulate.

The closing minutes of normal time were predictably tense, but there would be no repeat of United's dramatic last-gasp victory in 1999.

Extra-time it was, and within three minutes Chelsea found the woodwork for the second time. This time it was Lampard who was denied, after spinning neatly in the box and shooting left-footed from 10 yards. Van der Sar was once again helpless, but the underside of the bar came to his rescue.

But United soon began to reproduce their first-half form, and came close to scoring themselves. Evra broke down the left and cut back for Giggs, on as substitute to make his record-breaking 759th appearance for the club. The Welshman connected well, but Terry put his head in the way to deny him a fairytale winner.

With five minutes remaining, and penalties looming, a confrontation broke out between Drogba and Vidic. Players swarmed in, hands were raised, and when the dust settled the Ivorian was sent off for slapping Vidic across the face. It was a petty and ill-advised act from the striker, which was out of character for a match played for most part in a sportsmanlike manner.

With that, went the last meaningful action of the game, and the dreaded penalty shoot-out ensued.

Sadly for Chelsea, Terry spurned a glorious opportunity to hand the side their first European title after Ronaldo's kick was saved, and it was left to Van der Sar to ensure the class of 2008 go down in history with United's all-conquering sides of 1968 and 1999.